Flexible spaces, strong graphics and signage and strategically selected products all work together to make your corporate space your own and a reflection of your company. Here's a round-up of interior design trends in action:

This story is about a journey that has taken more than half my lifetime to traverse. Last month, I officially became an architect licensed to practice architecture in the state of California. This is a tremendous burden off my shoulders and a definite source of pride. Now—after eight exams, three years of internships, five years of college and nearly eight years of real-life job experience at LPA—I can formally call myself an architect.

Last month, I had the honor of presenting at a workshop concerning California’s drought and the impending water restrictions. The workshop—put on as a joint effort between the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) and Schools Energy Coalition (SEC)—was focused on helping K-12 school districts understand what the implications from California’s mandatory water reductions would be and to arm them with some tools and strategies to meet those reductions. The first half of the workshop focused on background information about the drought, Governor Brown’s executive order and which entities are being affected by the executive order. The second half of the workshop brought together a panel of mostly school district facility directors and myself to provide some real-world case studies that show how a school district might reduce its landscape water use.

No matter the business, corporate leaders and commerce visionaries share a similar challenge: the ability to attract and maintain top talent. Thought leaders and industry pioneers are looking at creative workspaces as a physical expression of their business ethos and a vital tool in the pursuit of meaningful talent. Crafting a space that supports the mind shift of the progressive workforce, requires a transformation in the way corporate facilities support people and the organizational process.

A crucial element in every healthcare organization is trust. Healthcare services which address pivotal life moments for patients and caregivers can make or break a person’s confidence in their provider. Consequently, healthcare designers have a tremendous opportunity to channel these impactful life moments into positive experiences with elevated consumer confidence.

Water is a scarce resource, and it’s especially relevant in California. However, a well-designed, water-efficient landscape design should always be a consideration regardless of location. A water-conscious, sustainable landscape is easily achievable, and the options for native and drought tolerant plants far exceed cacti and succulents. Here are three tips that will help you in creating a sustainable landscape that saves water and improves the aesthetics of your property:

Last month, Emily Koch and I were honored to present at the CEFPI Southern Regional Conference in San Antonio. We arrived late the night before from a week-long workshop which centered on designing Learning Environments for Tomorrow (LEFT), hosted by Harvard’s Graduate Schools for Education and Design. After long days of design-thinking activities and thought-provoking conversations, the CEFPI conference was quite timely and a perfect venue to continue the conversation. We were able to share not only parts of what we had learned over the last week, but also to share our own research and insights on educational design.